Actors Leslie Odom Jr. of “Carousel” and Audra McDonald of “Hamilton” will alternate hosting responsibilities for the Tony Awards and the unique celebration of all things Broadway that will take place in conjunction with the yearly presentation of the awards.
A live musical event featuring theatre legends returning on stage to sing famous classics will be hosted by Lamar Odom as part of ‘The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back’, a special to be shown on CBS. A special performance by the three Tony-nominated best musical candidates will also take place during the event, which will include ‘Jagged Little Pill,’ ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” and ‘Tina – The Tina Turner Musical.’
McDonald will host the live presentation of the majority of the Tony Awards, which will include the awards for the most outstanding performances in musicals and plays. It’ll only be available on Paramount+, according to the network’s website.
As Odom put it, “Broadway is a part of my DNA, and I’m overjoyed to see it reopen its doors.” It is heartening to see so many great artists returning to work and doing what they love for audiences who have been missing out on these wonderful performances.
The event is taking place at the same time as theatres in New York are reopening. New Broadway plays, such as ‘Pass Over,’ have begun performances, while long-running favourites, such as ‘Hamilton,’ and ‘Wicked,’ will resume performances this week. COVID-19 is scheduled to shut Broadway theatres in March of 2020.
In retrospect, my biggest hope is that this event signals the beginning of a new age for Broadway, one marked by renewed dedication to inclusion and belonging, as well as a renewed respect for the holy experience of seeing a live performance.”
For his role in the Broadway musical ‘Hamilton,’ Odom was nominated for two Academy Awards, one for his appearance in the film?’One Night in Miami…,’ and the other for his contribution to an original song for the film ‘Speak Now.’ He will next appear in David Chase’s ‘Sopranos’ prequel, ‘Many Saints of Newark,’ in which he will reprise his role.
The shows ‘Carousel’, “Master Class,” “Ragtime,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” “The Gershwin Brothers’ Porgy and Bess,” and “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill” are just a few of the ones she has performed in on stage.
On September 26, CBS will broadcast a special titled “The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back.”
